A/N: hey guys! Hope you like this chapter and the way our ladies are growing closer. Sorry for the delay. I meant to publish yesterday but ended up going out and getting drunk to celebrate my new job as a freelance writer!
It didn't take Emma long to find Regina. She waited ten minutes to give the brunette some time to compose herself before she went on her search. She doubted the brunette would remain in the house; clearly the place was bringing back memories of her father even if she had never visited him there. So she headed straight for the garden. Her chickens and ducks were quiet which meant Regina wasn't nearby. They always made a fuss when there were people present. They were better than guard dogs, she was sure. Hands stuffed in her pockets, she wandered the other way, down towards the stables she had briefly pointed out to Regina from the top of the hill. She hadn't been down to them since the first day she visited the house, when she had discovered Henry had filled the loose boxes to the rafters with what looked like mounds of crap.
Regina turned around when she heard Emma's footsteps crunching on the gravel yard. She had been leaning on a half-open stable door, looking at the cluttered contents beyond.
"Hey," she said with a soft smile when Emma stopped a little way off.
"Are you ok?" Emma asked.
Regina nodded and pushed herself off the door, walking over to where Emma stood before continuing. "I'm sorry I shouted at you. I didn't mean it."
"It's fine," Emma assured. "I'm sorry I said what I did. I should have known you wouldn't have wanted his money. I mean, if I feel as bad about what happened as I do, I can't imagine what you're feeling."
Regina shrugged. "I don't care, most of the time. It hurt so much when he first left. For years afterwards I wished he would come back, would finally accept me. But as I got older I realised that was never going to happen and I got over it. You're right; it's his loss. I'll never forgive him for what he did and I'll always hate him for leaving us. But you don't need to feel bad about offering me the money; it was a really sweet thing to do. And as for you having the money, don't feel guilty about spending it or enjoying it either. It's yours to do with as you wish, not his."
"I'll never be able to forget who gave it to me though," Emma said. "I'm not so sure I want a constant reminder of him any more."
Regina knew that feeling. Her childhood home had been sold not long after her father left and the move to their smaller house in the city had been a big help in processing what had happened. His possessions were no longer there to remind her every day of his absence, there were no places or rooms or objects which conjured up memories. It was a fresh start. But the money; everything purchased with it would be a tangible link to Henry Mills, including her surgery.
"Do you want to come back inside and we can start cooking dinner?" Emma asked. "I usually head down to The Rabbit Hole at about nine, so we have some time if you would rather keep talking."
"No, I'm done talking about my father for the day," Regina said. "But I do need to collect my car."
The women hadn't mentioned the fact that they'd walked right past the Mercedes parked in front of Emma's former home. Regina had packed a small overnight bag, just in case, and was now realising that she was going to have to trek across town to retrieve it.
"We can drive over," Emma said. "It'll take ages to walk all the way there and I'm getting hungry."
Regina raised her eyebrows as she glanced towards the old yellow VW Beetle she had seen parked under a leafy sycamore tree.
"And it'll be faster in that thing?"
Emma beamed, not because of the dig at her beloved bug but at the fact that Regina was back. She hadn't meant to upset the brunette, of course, ands was immensely relieved to discover that she hadn't ruined their evening. Regina's sass had returned.
The drive indeed was faster than a walk would have been, despite it taking three attempts of Emma turning the key for the engine to start. Once at the bungalow, Regina climbed out and they drove back to the manor house in convoy. Parking up, the women were soon side by side in the kitchen, peeling potatoes which would accompany the fish and green vegetables Emma had already got out of the fridge.
Two hours later and Emma looked up when there was a knock on her bedroom door, smiling widely as she saw Regina standing in the entranceway looking a little shy. She beckoned her inside and put her iPad down. The brunette had chosen to sleep in the room besides Emma's and, judging by the towel turban she was sporting, had just emerged from a shower. As Regina sat down beside Emma on the bed, the blonde caught a whiff of vanilla. She swallowed, trying hard not to think of Regina moisturising.
"I didn't really bring anything to wear," Regina said. "I mean, I brought clothes. But nothing to go out to a bar in."
"I'm just wearing jeans and a blouse," Emma offered.
"I have a dress," Regina said. "But I think it might be too fancy."
Emma said nothing about the fact that the brunette brought what sounded very much like a date-dress and instead suggested Regina it try so Emma could give her opinion as to the suitability of the outfit. Regina nodded her agreement to that idea and climbed off the bed. Emma sat against the headboard, scrolling through her Facebook feed once more until a second knock on her open door drew her attention. She gasped.
Regina looked almost embarrassed as she stood in the doorway in a royal blue dress, the material clinging to every curve of her body. The non-symmetrical neckline, long sleeves and the almost knee-length cut of the dress gave it class but at the same time it was incredibly sexy. Emma couldn't stop her eyes glancing to Regina's crotch but she saw nothing. Not a bump, not any hint as to what lay beneath the material.
"Well?" Regina asked when Emma failed to speak.
"You're gorgeous," Emma breathed out.
Regina blushed and plucked self-consciously at the hem. "I'm not."
Emma climbed off the bed at once and walked over to the brunette, taking the fidgeting fingers in her own. She waited until Regina met her gaze before she spoke.
"You are utterly breathtaking, Regina," Emma said. "This dress is incredible and you look beautiful in it. I can't wait to show you off to everyone tonight in The Rabbit Hole."
"It's not too much?"
"It's perfect," Emma insisted.
Regina nodded, accepting the compliment and then leaned up to place a soft kiss against Emma's lips. Their fingers squeezed together as their mouths met, a gentle, delicate caress of a kiss. Emma's eyes remained closed long after Regina pulled away. She was fairly sure she would never get over how amazing it felt to kiss the brunette standing before her.
"I'd better get changed," Emma said eventually. "Not that I'll be holding a candle to you tonight but I can't show you up by going like this, can I?" Emma spread her arms, indicating the tank top and shorts she was still sporting.
Although a matter of opinion, it was probably true to say Regina outshone Emma when they entered The Rabbit Hole later that evening. Those who turned to greet Emma faltered slightly in their waves and words as their eyes drank in the raven-haired beauty standing just behind her. Emma didn't mind. In fact, she was proud. They made they way to Emma's usual barstool hand in hand and climbed up besides one another. Ruby appeared seconds later, quirking an eyebrow at Emma almost imperceptibly.
"Evening, what can I get you?" Ruby asked with a smile.
"Two white wines and a moment of your time," Emma said.
Surprised both by Emma's choice of drink and her formal request, Ruby remained rooted to the spot. Emma just chuckled and continued.
"Ruby, I'd like you to meet Regina, Henry Mill's daughter. Regina, this is Ruby, my best friend and the bartender here."
"It's nice to meet you," Regina said, extending her hand towards the redhead.
Momentarily stunned even further Ruby blinked and then seemed to come back to herself. She shot out her hand to grip Regina's, shaking it briefly before gushing about how nice it was to finally meet her and how Emma had told her all about her visit to Chicago.
"Yes, unplanned trips appear to be our thing," Regina said with a sideways look at Emma who grinned dopily back.
"Yeah, Emma didn't mention your visit this morning," Ruby said, also looking at her friend. "What happened?"
The last Ruby had heard, the brunette woman who had captured her friend's attention was still in Chicago, without a whisper of anything in Emma's direction. She had wanted to be annoyed at the way Regina had treated Emma but the adoring look on the blonde's face was one she had never seen before and any anger she had been harbouring towards the stranger evaporated on the spot. Her friend was clearly besotted and unequivocally happy.
"Oh, I decided to drive down instead of calling," Regina said simply. "I think you'll agree the conversation Emma and I needed to have was better done in person."
"And I'm taking that conversation went well?" Ruby asked, still trying to get her friend to take her eyes off the woman beside her, at whom she was still staring.
"Indeed," Regina said. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to come down. Emma mentioned how she's been a bit down these last few weeks."
"Hey! I didn't say that," Emma protested at last. "Ruby said I was down. I was merely parroting what she said. I thought I was perfectly cheerful."
Two sets of brown eyes simply looked pointedly at Emma who eventually huffed and conceded that perhaps Ruby might have had a point.
"Well it's great to see you smiling again," Ruby said. "And I'll go and get those white wines for you. Are you sure you don't want a Kalik, Em?"
Emma shook her head and turned back to Regina who was looking at her curiously.
"Kalik?" Regina frowned. "As in the beer?"
"Yeah," Emma nodded. "I used to drink it all the time. In fact," she bit her lip, not wanting to bring up Henry again but knowing it was better coming from her than Ruby, "that's how I met your father."
"Over beer from the Bahamas?"
Emma nodded and explained how she and Henry had bonded over their love of the beer and reminisced about their holidays abroad. Part way through, Ruby interrupted with two large glasses of chilled white wine. Regina listened patiently as Emma talked, wondering as she did so, how many other times in the future her father was going to crop up in conversation. She supposed it was inevitable: he was ultimately how they met, after all.
"But you're not drinking it tonight?" Regina asked when Emma had finished.
"No," Emma said, shaking her head. "I've not drunk it for a while, actually."
Neither of them wanted to explore why that might be but Regina wasn't quite ready to move on fro the topic of Henry Mills.
"Where did you meet?" she asked.
"He was sat there," Emma said, pointing to the seat behind her. "This is where I always sit. I didn't even notice him when I walked in and it wasn't until he jumped in and started defending Kalik that we got talking."
Regina's eyes lingered on the empty barstool Emma had indicated until she felt Emma's hand resting gently on her knee. She jumped, the warm skin unfamiliar against her own. Emma pulled back at once.
"Sorry," they said in unison.
There was a pause, and then they both laughed, reaching for their wines and talking a sip.
"Shall we move to a booth?" Emma suggested. Around the walls of the bar were small, intimate booths, shrouded in darkness and the perfect place for couples to disappear into for the night.
"Why? You just said usually sit up here," Regina said.
"Yeah but I want us to be able to chat without people coming up to us all the time. The booth will be better, honestly."
"No one but Ruby had come up to us since we sat down and it's her job to do that. Maybe you're not as popular as you think, Miss Swan," Regina quipped.
Emma had opened her mouth to answer when a hand landed heavily on her shoulder. She turned and looked up into a familiar face.
"Seb," she said, wriggling out from beneath his touch. "How are you?"
"I'm doing good," Seb said, dragging over Henry Mills' former stool and sitting down. "It's good to see you."
He ignored Regina, choosing to sit facing Emma directly and swigging from a beer bottle dangling between his fingers. Emma narrowed her eyes slightly at his blatant rudeness.
"You too but I'm afraid I'm a little busy right now," Emma said, just as Regina's fingers ghosted over her own thigh. Her breath hitched as she turned to the brunette and saw a soft, shy smile on her lips. "Seb, you remember Regina, right?"
With evident reluctance, Seb finally acknowledged the woman sat beside Emma. "Yeah, hi."
"It's lovely to see you again," Regina said, with a charming smile. "I do apologise but I'm afraid I'm going to have to steal Emma away from you now. Important girlfriend stuff. I'm sure you remember what that was like."
The tips of Seb's ears went pink and he look a long drag from his bottle.
"Whatever," he shrugged, sliding from the bar stool. "See you later, Emma."
"Don't count on it," Emma mumbled under her breath as the man retreated. "Thanks," she added, turning back to Regina.
"You're welcome," Regina said, suddenly aware that her hand was still resting on Emma's denim-clad thigh. She could feel the heat of the blonde's skin radiating even through the thick material. She pulled away. "Um, shall we find that booth?"
The seating around the edge of the bar afforded them a little more privacy and, Emma had hoped, would deter people from coming up to them. But not everyone got the hint and their conversations were interrupted by two fisherman whom Emma was friendly with and Ruby's boyfriend Billy within the next hour. Regina didn't seem to mind and smiled politely at each of them as Emma tried to make it clear the two of them really didn't want company.
"You know there's one surefire way to make sure they know we're busy," Regina said, a glint in her eye.
Emma choked slightly on her wine she had been sipping and wiped her lips on a napkin before she spoke.
"You know, for someone who's not dated much, you're one hell of a flirt."
"Is that a compliment?" Regina asked, draining her glass and waving at Ruby who was passing their table and ordering another two drinks.
"Most definitely," Emma said, nodding enthusiastically.
Regina chuckled and leaned towards Emma, kissing her quickly before backing away. They sat side by side in the booth, looking out over the dance floor which was steadily filling, both women trying to calm their racing hearts. Emma could feel Regina's body practically vibrating next to her, her bare arm brushing against the soft material of Regina's dress. She jumped when the backs of Regina's fingers began to rub against her thigh, delicate, deliberate movements.
"Here you go," Ruby announced, appearing in front of them and making Regina squeak in surprise. Her hand retracted at once and Emma silently cursed her best friend's timing. Ruby, oblivious to what she had interrupted, leaned on the edge of the table and shouted over the music. "Billy's mate Tyler was asking about you, apparently. Wants to know if you're free for dinner next week."
"Tell him to fuck off," Emma shouted back, making Regina laugh.
Ruby nodded her understanding and grinned at the two women. As soon as she'd disappeared, Emma turned to Regina. Their eye met and even through the dark bar they could both see the deep emotions swirling within. It was Emma who closed the gap and captured Regina's lips tenderly between her own. Regina tilted her head back, enjoying the feel of Emma controlling their kiss from above. Without conscious thought, her hand landed once more on Emma's thigh, fingers digging lightly into the flesh as a way to ground herself. The kiss was making her light-headed and she had the strangest feeling that if she didn't grip onto Emma she might simply float away. When Emma's hands landed on her waist, her lips froze.
"Are you ok?" came the question, mumbled into her mouth.
"Yes," Regina breathed back as she took in the sensation of Emma's hands resting just above her hips.
After a moment, Regina kissed Emma again. Harder, more desperate. She opened her mouth, allowing Emma's lip to slide inside and, for the first time, grazed the tip of her tongue over the smooth, soft flesh. Emma whimpered. Regina's body was thrumming with desire. She had never felt like this before, not with another person. There was a stirring between her legs and her eyes snapped open, her heart suddenly in her mouth. She pulled away.
"Regina?" Emma frowned after a second's confusion. "Are you -?"
"I'm fine," Regina insisted, brushing some hair away from her flushed face. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Emma asked. "If that was too much, I'm really sorry. I thought you were ok with -."
"Ruby told me I might find you over here."
Emma snapped her head around and looked up into the familiar face in front of their table. She had been waiting for this particular moment all night, she just hadn't expected it to come straight after a dizzyingly good kiss from Regina.
"August, hey," Emma said, patting the bench beside her so the man sat down. "How have you been?"
"Good," he smiled. "We missed you in here though. It's good to have you back."
"It's good to be back," Emma said. "August, this is Regina. She's Henry Mills' daughter, the one I was telling you about. Regina, this is the owner of The Rabbit Hole, August."
"Hi," August said, holding out his hand for Regina to shake. She did so but only quickly. Physical contact with men was harder for some reason and she dropped her hand quickly. Both August and Emma stared for a moment where it landed; on Emma's thigh.
"Busy tonight," Emma said after a moment, looking away from Regina's touch and glancing out over the bar.
"Yeah, we're doing well," August nodded. "Tourist season is definitely picking up. Did you see many people down at the lake today?"
"A few," Emma nodded. "But we were mostly up in my hide."
"We? You made her climb up into a tree with you?" August laughed. "Regina, I take my hat off to you for that. She can't even get Ruby to sit with her when she's photographing."
Regina smiled. "I didn't mind," she said. "It's beautiful up there."
"Weirdest date ever," August said, folding his arms. "You really know how to make a girl feel special, don't you, Swan."
"That I do," Emma said, turning and smiling dopily at Regina who returned her gaze.
August cocked his head, regarding the two women for a moment. Emma had never looked at him like that. In fact, he didn't think he'd ever seen Emma look at anyone like that. Not even Lily. He wasn't bitter; it wasn't like he ever thought the two of them would make a proper go of things. What he and Emma had was only ever sex. Nothing more. But the blonde deserved some true happiness in her life and it looked like she'd found it.
"I've got to get back," August said, standing up and breaking the shared moment. "But the next drink is on the house, as a congratulations."
"Congratulations for what?" Emma asked.
August shrugged. "Just for the two of you."
He waved and disappeared into the crowd. Emma frowned at Regina.
"Congratulations for what?" she repeated.
Regina shook her head, not quite sure what Emma's former lover had meant either. She also didn't like to think of August that way, she realised. Although there was evidently nothing more between them, she still felt a little uncomfortable when speaking to the man, regardless of how nice he was. He had seen Emma naked, after all. And he'd had sex with her. Both of which were things Regina couldn't attest to. Her crotch twitched again and she jumped up just as Emma was about to open her mouth.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Regina replied. "I just need to go to the bathroom."
She bent down and kissed Emma's cheek before sliding out of the booth and walking quickly to the ladies and disappearing. Emma slouched back on the bench and took another sip of her wine as she watched the crowded dance floor, wondering if she would be able to persuade Regina onto it at some point in the future. The thought of Regina's body pressed tightly against her own made Emma's mind short-circuit until yet another person stepped up to their table.
"I was hoping I would run into you again," said the man, holding out a Kalik beer for her with a wink.
Regina always sat down to pee. She didn't need to but she wanted to, especially in a public restroom. The noise of her urinating into the bowl from standing always sounded catastrophically loud and she was convinced people would guess she was transgender. Plus sitting down was more comfortable. Once she was done and neatly tucked back into her underwear and dress, she emerged into the bathroom. There were a couple of other patrons in there as she made her way to the sink. When she looked up from washing her hands, she saw a familiar face in the mirror reflection behind her.
"Hey," she said, turning and smiling at Ruby who had just come out of a cubicle. "How's your night."
"Busy," Ruby replied. "But I'm on a ten minute break now. How about you? Are you having a good time with Emma?"
"Great," Regina nodded. "Ruby, I'm glad I ran into you actually."
"Oh yeah?" Ruby asked, unclasping her hair and shaking her long locks down her back before beginning to gather them up again. "Why's that?"
"I just wanted to apologise to you, about Emma."
"What do you mean?" the redhead asked.
"I'm sorry for not calling," Regina continued. "I know she's not been herself these last six weeks and I know that's because I didn't contact her. I never meant to hurt her but I really needed that time to get some things straight in my head. If I had known how sad it was making her, I would have called."
Ruby finished her hair and turned to Regina, leaning against the sink.
"Look, Emma's my best friend," Ruby said simply. "She's an amazing person and she deserves the world. And clearly she's head over heels for you." She waved her hand towards the brunette who blushed. " You don't need to apologise for not calling. I know you guys both have a lot of things to work through. I guess you know that Emma told me about -." Her eyes drifted down to Regina's crotch.
"Yes," Regina said, a little louder than necessary and Regina eyes snapped back up to her face. "Emma mentioned that you knew. I'm glad she had someone she could talk to. I know it's not easy for her either."
"It's not," Ruby agreed. "But she wants to make it work."
"I want it to work too," Regina said at once. "I really do Ruby."
"Good," Ruby said simply. "Because if you hurt her -,"
"You'll kill me?" Regina interrupted.
"Yup," Ruby laughed.
Regina grinned. She liked the redhead, despite the death threat. She was pleased Emma had such an accepting, supportive best friend. She was no fool; she knew that this budding relationship was going to be just as hard on Emma as it was on herself. She had had over a decade to come to terms with being transgender. Emma had known barely two months. It was a lot to take in. It was a lot to accept. And it was something they were going to have to take into consideration every step of the way.
"So Ruby's going to kill me if - Oh, hello," Regina said, taking in for the first time the man sat next to Emma in their booth.
"Hey," Emma said, reaching for Regina and practically tugging her down onto the bench beside her. "Regina, this is Killian. Killian, meet Regina."
The blue eyes of the man besides Emma widened, his jaw dropped, and his brow furrowed. Emma rather enjoyed that effect and kept Regina's hand firmly clasped in her own.
"Hi," Regina said. "Are you a friend of Emma's from Storybrooke?"
"Um, no," Killian said after a moment. "My parents live here. I'm just visiting."
"Yes, I was just saying that he's such a good son. He was here in March as well. And it's a long way to fly from the UK," Emma smiled.
"Wow, the UK," Regina echoed. "Whereabouts?"
"Bournemouth," Killian said. "I, um, I have a fishing business there."
"How lovely," Regina said, scooting a little closer to Emma as she registered the look of disappointment in Killian's eyes.
There was an awkward silence. Killian didn't seem to know what to say and neither women wanted to encourage the conversation.
"So it was great to see you again but I'm afraid we'd better continue on with our date," Emma said.
"Yeah, of course," Killian said, stumbling to his feet. "Nice to see you, Emma. And to meet you too, Regina."
The two women nodded their thanks and watched the man walk despondently away. When he had disappeared into the crowd, Regina turned to Emma with raised eyebrows.
"Ok, is there anyone in this bar you haven't slept with?"
Emma laughed. "Billy," she said. "He's Ruby's boyfriend, remember? And the shorter of the two fishermen from earlier."
"But everyone else …" She trailed off, not wanting to finish that sentence.
"I never slept with Killian," Emma defended. "And I have been living here for years."
"You like sex," Regina said simply. "It's not a problem. I don't mind."
"Yes you do," Emma said, turning in her seat so she was facing Regina fully. "But you shouldn't. Just because I've had sex with them doesn't mean I'm expecting you to jump into bed with me. Whenever you're ready, ok? Please don't feel any pressure."
"It's … it's not that," Regina admitted at last. "I mean, I'm not worried about feeling pressured by you. I know you would never do anything to make me uncomfortable."
"Then what is it?" Emma frowned.
"I … Earlier," Regina said, "when we were kissing. I felt … something."
"Something?" Emma asked.
Regina quirked her lips to the side and then pointedly looked down into her lap.
"Oh that kind of something," Emma said, realisation dawning on her. "Ok, well, that's a good thing, isn't it? I mean, awkward, I guess. But good."
"I suppose so," Regina replied. "But I've never felt that before. Not with another person."
"Arousal?" Emma asked.
Regina blushed. She was going to have to get used to Emma talking so frankly about sex. She could do the biological side of it; penises, vaginas, testicles. But the desire, the wanton sexual desire she had felt raging through her veins. That she was going to have to get used to.
"It shocked me, I suppose," Regina admitted. "Realising that my body wanted you in that way."
"Just your body?" Emma said.
Regina shrugged again. "I don't know. I like you, Emma. God, I like you so much! But I don't think my mind is ready for anything more. Even if my body is responding to your touch and the feel of you and what we're doing together, I'm not sure I'm emotionally ready."
"I get it," Emma said at once. "It's fine. We can wait as long as you need."
"I do want you," Regina said, her hands sliding around Emma's neck as she pulled herself closer. "I do really, really, want you, Emma."
"Good," Emma replied, her hands coming to rest once more on Regina's waist in what had become an accepted physical touch between them. "Because I really, really want you too."