It wasn't the next day but the following that Emma saw Regina seated at a booth in Granny's with an iced tea and a bored expression schooled on her face. A book lay on the table in front of her; darks eyes flickered back and forth on the pages. It was unusual for the mayor to be amongst the commoners, generally taking her lunch back to her office if she stopped by the diner at all. Emma normally would take a stool at the countertop so she could chat with Ruby when the waitress had a moment to spare for her. But now the sheriff paused in the doorway, torn between her habitual behavior and trying her luck at crashing the mayor's table.
In a fit of bravery, the blonde decided to forgo the bar top. Striding confidently to the booth she slid in opposite of Regina with a crooked grin that she hoped was charming, "Hey."
The brunette looked up mildly startled. "Ms. Swan?"
"Yes?" Innocence dripped from her tone.
"What are you doing?" A perfect eyebrow arched ominously at her.
"Joining you for lunch." She plucked up one of the menus placed behind the salt and pepper shakers. Her eyes stayed trained on her options as she conversationally continued, "What do you think? The lasagna or the tuna melt?"
"And why do you think you're welcome to join me for lunch?"
"I don't know. I guess I thought since we are sleeping together-"
"That isn't the time or place to be discussing that." Regina hissed, looking around for anyone who may have overheard her.
"No one is listening to us. No one would dare listen to us." She rolled her eyes. Everyone sat at least one table away from the pair, two if it could be managed in the lunch rush. Regina had that affect on people and it gave them an unintentional but convenient bubble of privacy. "Relax."
"Ms. Swan-" She started to growl incensed. Emma gently interrupted her though.
"Look, I just thought we could have lunch together considering what we've been doing… I just- whatever. But if you really find it that unbearable I'll get up and leave right now." She offered sincerely.
Regina glowered for a moment, clenching and unclenching her jaw. Finally she huffed and tossed her hair back, suddenly the picture of causal. "The lasagna is fine but mine is better."
"Of course it is." Emma smirked.
"Hey Em, are you eating with the mayor?" The waitress sounded obviously dubious making Emma cringe at her lack of tack. Regina seemed unimpressed.
"Yeah, it's a business lunch. Just going over some particulars with Madam Mayor." Emma lied more for Regina's benefit. The older woman was uncomfortable enough as it was; work was a perfectly reasonable justification for them to be seen together.
"Right." Ruby fiddled with her notepad uncomfortably. "You ready to order?"
"Yeah, I'll have a lemonade and… a BLT with sweet potato fries."
"You got it." Ruby nodded.
"Thanks." Emma said as the girl darted off to her duties. Turning back to her reluctant lunch date, Regina seemed more relaxed than when she first arrived at least. She politely closed her book and tucked it into her briefcase. Her posture was prim and proper while she waited for Emma to initiate the conversation with a haughty stare.
"How's your day so far?" The blonde blurted out lamely. Her plan didn't really extend beyond infiltrating Regina's prickle defenses but she never claimed to be much of a planner. Fortunately for her, the other woman was willing to overlook her incompetence and pretend like there was nothing strange about them chatting in the middle of the afternoon in the center of the town's most popular eatery.
"It's fine." Stubbornly not elaborating. Ruby whizzed by dropping off a tall glass of lemonade on her way.
"What brings you to the diner?" Emma enquired further.
"Why? Am I not allowed?" She sniffed.
"No, it's not that. Just you normally don't dine with us peasants." The blonde jibed with a cautious chuckle. Regina however found her weak joke far funnier than she thought it was as she returned with heartier laughter. The sound thrilled up her spine and her stomach dipped like she was on a roller coaster.
The brunette explained, "I felt like getting out of the office. And Sydney was getting rather under foot. I needed a break."
Sydney Glass the lead reporter for the Daily Mirror at times acted like mayor's right hand man but often just followed her around with a pathetic moony expression on his face. Clearly the man pined for Regina and she couldn't really blame him. It didn't stop the sickening tendrils of jealousy to irrationally wrap around her. She swallowed hard, swiping fingers over the condensation gathering on her glass, "He's around an awful lot…"
"He finds joy in helping me with little things." Regina responded coyly, watching her intently for a reaction. Emma tried to maintain her neutrality but from the little smirk playing at the older woman's lips she wasn't doing a good job of it.
The blonde gave up pretense and gritted her teeth, "What kind of things?"
Mirth danced in the dark eyes as she grinned wickedly, "Oh this and that. You needn't worry though sheriff. Only you help me with certain, essential things."
Her cheeks burned at how obvious she was but still managed to smile cockily at her, "So I'm essential?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." The words held no malice though. Emma sat back and sipped on her lemonade, feeling more at ease, her doubts over her ill-conceived luncheon dissipating. She suddenly was aware that they hadn't truly fought in quite some time, of course they still snipped and spat with each other, but somewhere along the way their total ire shifted to something else that made her feel vibrant and passionate.
"Here you go." Ruby startled her out of thought, setting plates in front of both of them as she managed to rush Emma's meal out with Regina's fancy looking salad that was most likely solely on the menu for the mayor.
"Thanks Rubes. Looks great."
"Yes Ms. Lucas, thank you," Her voice polite and yet dismissive at the same time. The waitress took the hint and fled from the pair with a quick nod. Regina simply turned back to Emma as if she hadn't chased off her friend and began delicately eating her greens. "And how have you been spending your day?"
Dumping a large glob of ketchup on her plate Emma shrugged. "I got caught up on some reports. I came here from the pharmacy. Some kids have been tagging the side of the building and Mr. Clark wanted to file a compliant. I suggested he think of investing in some white paint."
"The citizens tax dollars hard at work I see."
"Just trying to keep the peace ma'am." She winked.
"How was your movie night?" Emma was somewhat surprised she asked as she answered slowly after chewing a bite of her sandwich.
"It was fine."
"What did you watch?"
"Princess Bride."
She guffawed. "Of course."
Emma wondered, not for the first time, what had happened between the two women to drive such a rift between them. Regina and Mary Margaret made little comments that suggested they knew each other better than what they would lead her to believe. Whenever she tried to broach the subject with her roommate, she would say that she hardly knew the woman. Regina had just been the mayor for as long as she could remember. It was something she was learning to let go. "It was alright…"
Though what she remembered most about the night didn't involve the movie. "Honestly, I was pretty distracted the whole night."
Emma peered through her lashes expectantly and Regina readily took the bait with a little sparkle flashing in her eyes. "Oh? By what?"
"You."
A salacious grin spread across her face for a spilt second before she recalled where they were. Her serious demeanor returned, speaking with sugary, faux remorse, "I'm very sorry to have disturbed your evening."
Emma smirked, knowing full well that Regina was never sorry about anything, "Mm, it was very inconvenient."
"I think it would only be appropriate if I offered you some restitution."
"What kind of restitution?"
"Let's continue this conversation at the sheriff's station and I'll…"
"Can't. Leroy is still sleeping off one of his binges in the drunk-tank." That and being around the volatile woman and prison cells seemed like an extremely bad idea, she added in her head. The blonde figured she should go release her prisoner soon but all her rational thoughts were slipping through her fingers. Instead she was consumed with desire that was becoming harder and harder for her to resist. "But my apartment is empty until after the last school bell."
The mayor was already taking two crisp twenties out of her pocketbook. A noise of protest came from the back of Emma's throat but she was ignored. Regina set the money on the table, "Restitution my dear. Let's go."
It was too much money to leave and their meals were only half finished but they were out of their seats in a flash. Neither noticed any odd stares from the other patrons at their sudden departure. They were quick and quiet on their trek; just a flurry of rustling coats, shoes tapping on the stairs, and her keys jingling in the lock. No sooner had the door swung open, and Regina was on her. Her briefcase tossed carelessly at the entrance, the brunette's hands ripped at her jacket and lips dappled kisses along her jaw, trailing frustratingly close to her own lips but never touching. Emma quickly reciprocated, shoving her trench coat off her shoulders so she could drag her own hands over the royal blue dress that clung to her curves.
Emma ducked her head so she could kiss her neck as they struggled to get across the room, too wrapped up in one another. The blonde held Regina flushed against her, holding her around the waist like her life depended on it. It felt like she could never be close enough to this woman. Suddenly her back collided with one of the wooden columns that broke up the apartment, halting their progression. She turned her head, looking at the stairs that were so near yet so far, and incidentally granting Regina more access to lick along her collarbone exposed by the deep v-cut of her shirt. She found her voice, "We should take this upstairs."
Regina stopped kissing her chest just long enough to respond, "No I think I like you here."
"Regina…" She strained against the woman but she held fast, keeping her pinned with her weight. Her hands found their way under her shirt, shoved her bra aside to stroke her breasts. Emma couldn't help but mewl under the touch, the arousal already settling heavily between her thighs.
She heard a dark chuckle, "A bit eager are we?"
"Some of us have been waiting longer than others." Emma growled, not taking kindly to be mocked at this point.
"You're the one who ran out on me from my office." The mayor reminded her between kisses on her throat.
"Well, I didn't intend on getting called to take Leroy to lockup last night or Mary Margaret falling asleep on me the night before." She gasped when nails lightly scraped over her nipple.
"Poor Emma." The older woman still taking great amusement in her predicament, "Can't get any satisfaction?"
Emma began canting her hips into those crushing into her, searching desperately for friction. Generally she made it a rule not to beg, however the brunette teased her mercilessly as she gently fondled her breasts and sucked at the skin on her shoulder, so today she made an exception. "I need you inside me."
Her voice was needy and desperate but Regina was giving no quarter, "What's the magic word?"
"'Gina. Fuck me. Please fuck me." Something rumbled in the back of her throat as she bit down hard onto Emma's shoulder.
"Since you asked so nicely…" Regina tore open the button on her jeans, shoving her hand down her pants and underwear. The blonde groaned as her fingers skated over her wet, swollen sex, wasting no time to find her entrance and pushing two digits firmly inside of her.
"Oh god yes." Emma rocked into her. Regina's movements were restricted from the confined space though it mattered little to the blonde who was already embarrassingly close to spiraling out of control. The fingers curled against the most sensitive spot inside her, making her frantic with pleasure. She moaned and panted wantonly for the woman who suddenly shifted her arm's position, the heel of her palm pulsing against her clit with each wave like motion of her fingers buried in her sex. They pushed roughly into each other and Emma knew Regina's arms muscles must have been burning from the unyielding force with which she drove into her. But it felt so incandescently divine as she climbed to great pleasure she never wanted it to end. Until the older woman's voice husked in her ear, "Come for me."
She nearly cried Regina's name in relief as her orgasm rippled outwards. Her body shuddered with the sweet torment starting at her center and rushing intoxicatingly outward through her. The brunette was considerate enough to do her the favor of holding her up until she could regain her senses. Still breathing heavily, sweat gathering at her hairline from her body overheating so quickly, Emma pried her eyes open to stare into the fiery brown gaze watching her, waiting for her. Regina delicate removed her hand, bringing her drenched fingers to her lips. Emma could only look on enthralled as the other woman sucked her them into her mouth, cleaning them of her arousal.
The sheriff managed to surge forward on shaky legs, pushing passed her companion but also grabbing her wrist and tugging her along. "Come on. I need to be laying down for the rest of this."
/
It was going on three o'clock when Regina realized the time. Stretching her muscles, slightly sore but very sated, she slipped out of the tangled mess of sheets. Emma harrumphed at her leaving but was rather too spent to do much about it. She hadn't really gone easy on the poor girl. The mayor set about the task of finding her undergarments sliding back into them. She slinked back into her dress that had thankfully found it's way of the back of a chair and was not hopelessly rumpled on the ground that had been the fate of Miss Swan's disposed clothes.
Though with the exception of clothes they had strewn about the room in their hurry to undress, Emma kept her room relatively neat even if it was cramped mostly with her roommate's things, having been storage space before she moved in. The quilted-flower comforter that was now scrunched at the bottom of the bed and delicate, antiqued furniture screamed of Mary Margaret's influence. She could barely tell that the sheriff lived here at all, the lofted attic devoid of anything really personalized to the woman. No framed pictures of friends left behind or collectibles that spoke to Emma's aesthetic adorned the surfaces of her room. She wondered if it was the same for her apartment back in Boston, and almost asked before she remembered she didn't care about that kind of thing. This was about seeking pleasure, not making friends.
She refocused, sitting in the small stool that was positioned in front of the modest vanity to fix her mussed appearance. With a borrowed brushed riddled with blonde hairs, her umber locks were tidily combed back into place. She snatched a tissue from its box to wipe away some smudged eye makeup and smeared lipstick. Finally plucking up a body spray to mask the smell of sex she was sure she reeked of, she sprayed the perfume and the light scent of strawberries filled her nose. She sighed softly then frowned realizing that a scant amount of liquid sloshed in the bottom of the bottle. She didn't recognize the label with illustrated strawberries falling down the side. "You're almost out."
"Hm?" Emma lifted her head from her pillows, hair falling carelessly over her eyes.
"Your perfume. You're almost out." She reiterated.
"Oh yeah." The younger woman snuggled back into her bed seemingly unperturbed. "I guess I'll have to go without for a while."
"Why? Have they stopped producing it?" Regina demanded not liking it one bit.
"No, it's common enough out in the rest of the world." She rolled on her side propping her head up. "But here in Storybrooke all your beauty products are generic, like I haven't seen anything name brand here, at all. What's up with that?"
Regina couldn't explain to Emma why this was the case. When she enacted the curse, she knew nothing of this realm. She had to rely on her magic to fill in the blanks and magic didn't know about Herbal Essences or Chanel so all the products ended up simple and boring, a small detail in enhancing the drudgery of their hopefully unhappy lives.
"Why do you care about my perfume?"
"Just making an observation." She acted nonchalant. The mayor would never admit that she had grown fond of the aroma, especially when it danced intoxicatingly along the pale skin she explored on a regular basis now. Regina pushed away the thought and made her way back to the bed. Sitting on the edge she presented her back to the blonde, "Zip me please."
The blankets rustled behind her as the other woman sat up. Instead of simply doing as she was asked, Regina felt lips caressing her shoulder blade and a hand settled on her waist. The mayor shivered contentedly as the lazy kisses continued at the top of her spine. Her voice hummed into her as her mouth trailed downward, "You'll have to tell me your secret someday."
The queen tensed. Surely she couldn't know her biggest, most bad secret, "Whatever do you mean?"
"How you managed to look perfect after our activities and I look like I've been lost in the woods for a few days." With a final peck on the back of her neck, the high whine of the zipper being dragged up ended the pleasant sensation.
Regina smirked, reestablishing her confidence. She stood from the bed once again and turned to look down at Emma who had the white sheet wrapped around her nude form. She stroked the wayward golden curls without a thought, "Maybe someday. I'll give you a hint though. It involves a brush."
"Never heard of it." Emma retorted with a cheeky expression.
"Clearly." Regina couldn't resist her amused chuckle, the reply that would normally come out acidic and droll, surprisingly soft and affectionate. Then announcing, "I have to go."
"Back to the office?" The blonde settled down on the mattress once more, looking entirely too comfortable and content. She just looked back at Emma, struck with the fond familiarity that had somehow surreptitiously developed over the months since her unexpected arrival. The Evil Queen tried to summon the feeling of hatred and need to destroy her perceived opponent but she came up empty. In fact, all she wanted to do was climb back into the bed and press herself back into the warm, welcoming body that lay there. The feeling overwhelmed her like a tidal wave and she was being swept out to sea away from everything safe and known. She hadn't felt this craving for another person since… she couldn't admit it to herself even.
"Regina?" Her eyes snapped back to the younger woman watching her curiously.
"Sorry, no. Henry will be home soon. Shouldn't you be getting back to the station?" She focused on remaining cool and collected despite the feeling as though she were drowning.
"No I think I'll stay here." Emma adorably curled up on her side, doing nothing to curb her desire to go to her.
"You're skipping out on the rest of the day?"
"You are. Why can't I?" Her eyes slipping shut.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" She cocked an eyebrow.
"What could I possibly be forgetting?" Emma remained unmoved and uncaring.
"So you plan on leaving Leroy in lockup from another night?"
"Shit." The expletive fell from her mouth and Regina turned to go with a victorious smirk, leaving the sheriff to scramble around for her clothing and giving her a chance to getaway.
/
"Mom?"
"In the kitchen." Regina called back to her son. His sneakers smacked clumsily against the hardwood floor and the noisy, jangling sound of his backpack drew near until he appeared in the doorway.
"Why are you home so early?" He shifted on his spot like he might be in trouble.
"I just finished early at the office today." She set aside the coffee cup she'd been nursing, pretending that she hadn't just been staring mindlessly at her laptop computer screen, which was mocking her with a page confirming a purchase she had no business purchasing. It filled her with unknown dread at the implication of it all, at her new feelings towards his birth mother. Sharply snapping the device closed and offering him a false, bright smile she asked, "Would you like a snack?"
"Sure." He shrugged amiably and took a chair at the island, letting his bag fall heavily onto the floor. The brunette paid no attention to minor racket that would normally bring about her ire as she moved to rummage through the fridge for an appropriate snack. She found celery sticks, already washed and cut. On autopilot she set them on the counter and took the peanut butter and box of raisins from the cabinet. They called it 'ants on a log' when Henry was smaller, one of his favorites.
"Mom, what's going on with you and Emma?" His question came out of the blue.
Panic gripped at her throat. He couldn't possibly know about the nature of their relationship. Quickly, she reigned in the fear, sounding causal as possible. "What do you mean? Nothing is going on."
"When I passed by Granny's, I overheard Ruby telling Ms. Blanchard that you guys had lunch together and left in a hurry." As he spoke, she kept calmly spreading a healthy dollop of peanut butter on each stalk but mentally cursed herself. She had been so caught up in the moment with Ms. Swan, consumed with desire for her, that she didn't consider what people would think if they had left together. She should have followed Emma after a few minutes or something to cover their trail. She was not accustomed to making such mistakes, but something about the blonde clouded her judgment. He continued to ask, "Did you guys get into a fight?"
"First of all, it's rude to eavesdrop." The mother in her reprimanded him but he offered her no remorse on the matter, staring innocently at her. "And it was just a business lunch. I had town matters to discuss with the sheriff."
"Ruby said you guys looked mad when you left. Like you were storming out."
"Well, she was mistaken." Which was true seeing as the reason for their hasty departure was not anger, rather a different sin entirely that drove them from the diner. "We simply had to leave because Ms. Swan left some papers that we needed in her apartment."
"Oh."
"This is why gossiping is bad Henry." Regina lectured as she lined up the dried grapes on the peanut goop she'd finished distributing. "It starts rumors that aren't true and can be hurtful."
The tips of his ears turned pink at being scolded, but his shame only lasted a moment, "So you and Emma are getting along?"
Setting the plate of food in front of him, she tried to think of a way to avoid his uncomfortable questioning but came up blank. Sighing, she came up with her best diplomatic answer, "She is my employee. We have to work together in a professional capacity. That's all."
"You never invited Sheriff Graham to dinner. He was your employee." He pointed out then took a bite of celery with a loud crunch.
"That's not the same. And it was one time." She countered.
"Maybe, but I still think you've been getting along." He plucked one of the raisins from its row and popped it in his mouth.
"Why do you say that?" She asked genuinely curious.
"I don't know. You've been acting different for a while, less… evil."
"Henry!" She protested his word choice even though it was accurate at times.
"You know what I mean Mom. You seem happier I guess."
"How can you tell?"
He tilted his head thoughtfully, "You don't snap at people anymore. Mr. Glass hasn't been around to help you plot anything. And you smile more, like before…"
He left his thought hanging but Regina could guess what he would've said; before he received the storybook, before he found out she was the evil queen, before when he was just a little boy who loved his mommy. She swallowed hard. "Henry, I never meant for this distance to happen between us."
"I know." He looked down at his plate and softly admitted, "Me neither."
Neither hers nor Henry's statement was much of an apology but it was enough for now. She forgot sometimes what a brilliant and observant boy she raised. Begrudgingly, she had to admit he'd been right. She couldn't think of the last time she'd yelled at someone, even when Mary Margret accidentally plowed into her the other day. And usually, the mayor kept Sydney close to aid her in the various wicked schemes she concocted. However, when he came by the office to bleat at her annoyingly that she'd basically been ignoring him as of late, Regina found she no longer had the stomach to string the man along. She didn't want to bat her eyes at him or pat his thigh to give him an inkling of hope. It had given her a sick feeling in the back of her throat, making her flee the persistent man. Deciding to take lunch in the diner was what led her to Emma that afternoon. Everything seemed to be leading her to that damn woman.
Regina smiled fondly back at Henry, trying to dispel her heavier thoughts, "Why don't you take the rest of you snack upstairs and start some homework."
"I can eat in my room?"
"Just keep it at your desk."
"Cool." He hopped off the chair, repositioning his backpack on his slim shoulders then grabbing his celery. He started to scurry out of the room but stopped short in the doorway, turning back around to look at her, "I think Emma was right."
She sincerely doubted that Emma could be right about anything but she inquired, "About what?"
"She said to bring back the happy endings we needed to create other people's happy endings, including yours." He beamed at her the trotted off to his bedroom as if he didn't have a care in the world. Regina, however, felt like a bomb had just gone off in the kitchen.