A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews and sorry if I haven't gotten back to you yet. I love seeing your reactions and am so grateful for the feedback! To the guests that have reviewed, thank you and I also hope that there will be something original that will make this fic a bit more special, we shall see as I've yet to have the pleasure of reading those particular fics mentioned, but I will do so once this is finished! Once again, thanks and this is a story I really wanted to tell for personal reasons so I hope you enjoy it! Also, sorry for the amount of CS and OQ so far. There will be more SQ SOON!
Emma drove off to a park to gather her thoughts. She didn't want to go running off to Ruby yet again with her problems and she knew exactly what she would say. As much as she wanted to listen to her friend's advice, this was her relationship and nobody else knew the conflict she felt inside. He took care of her, he was usually good in bed. They shared interests with music being the biggest one. When they were on good form, there was a hopefulness in Emma's heart and she felt like she could settle with him forever. She liked making him happy but at some point, she had to ask herself if that was enough? The fact was, she felt incredibly guilty and in her mind, Killian had a point. She felt like she owed him something and she needed to stop fantasizing about things and start acting like an adult. She couldn't bear the thought of any harm coming to him and they had been good for so long until she messed things up. Her bisexuality wasn't going away and she knew it never would. As much as she wanted to stay with him, she couldn't imagine going through the rest of her life without ever being with another woman. It had slowly gotten stronger over the past few years and she felt like she was constantly lying to him. They had broken up so many times but somehow, he always managed to sweet talk her into coming back. They would spend a week or so apart and he'd call her and beg her to come back to him and tell her he was going to be less controlling. She never truly believed him and sometimes she could convince herself she needed him to keep her in check.
Today she felt differently. After the conversation she'd had with Regina at the bar and what had just happened on her social media, she was starting to gain back some of her confidence in her ability to be independent. Emma must have sat there for hours pondering her life and choices when she realised it was getting dark. Her phone buzzed.
Ruby: Video is ready!
Emma smiled at the message and pulled herself up off the grass thankful for an excuse to go see the woman.
E: Awesome! On my way.
...
"Rubes this is amazing! How did you do this so quickly?" Emma was so impressed by the editing skills of her friend.
"When I'm excited about something, I can actually get shit done! Come on! Let's get this uploaded and watch the love roll in!"
Emma logged into her account on Ruby's desktop and let the brunette do her thing. She read the subtitle and laughed. "See I would never pimp myself out like that!"
"That's why you need me babe! I'm like the queen of marketing! Trust me, this is gonna get people talking."
Emma watched as the video completed and within a minute, it had been viewed over 100 times. "That's crazy!"
"This time tomorrow, you won't know what hit you!" Ruby scuttled off into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of Champagne and two flutes.
"Oh my God, you actually bought it!"
Ruby popped the cork and whooped as the froth spilled out the end. She put it in her mouth after trying to fill the glasses. "No! Are you crazy? I don't have that kind of money! I swiped it from work!" She winked and cackled mischeivously.
"Classy as always."
"Meh, classy is overrated."
The friends sipped their champagne and chatted animatedly about everything that had happened in the last two days. They joked and fantasized about what they would do if Emma did indeed become super rich and famous and how Ruby could get involved.
"I'd be your PR lady! Or manager!"
"Yeah right! You can't even manage a bar without stealing something and it's your own place! You do realise you stole from yourself?"
Ruby shrugged. "I'll get over it. What am I gonna do? Fire my ass?"
"Who exactly did you call in sick to?"
"I asked Dolores to cover me."
"Man you are the worst..." Emma cut off as her phone rang. She didn't recognize the number but answered it anyway.
"Hello?"
"Is this Emma Swan?"
"Yes it is."
"Hi Emma, I'm Belle Gold, A & R Manager at Goldrum Records. I got your number from a mutual contact, I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all. Hello!"
"Emma, we are extremely impressed with your music and believe you would fit in perfectly with our label. Could we arrange a sit down this week?"
"Uhm, sure. Yeah."
"Excellent. Mr. Gold will be pleased! I'll message you the details now. Where are you based?"
"Boston."
"Ok. If you can send me the following details I've just messaged you and we will get you a flight out tomorrow morning is that going to be an issue?"
"I, erm, nope! That sounds great!"
"Mr. Gold would also like to ask you not to disclose any of the details of his contract, especially if you are in any negotiations with other labels. I'm sure you understand."
"Of course."
"Excellent then! We shall see you tomorrow Emma. Thank you for your time!"
Emma hung up and Ruby held the whole bottle of Champagne in front of her face. "Breathe, drink and then tell me everything!"
...
Regina watched the video over and over again. She was mesmerized by Emma's talent and something about the way her fingers moved against the keys of the piano, so delicately and precisely, it made her tingle all over. She noticed how she wet her lips between breaths with just a flick of a tongue and felt the color rise to her cheeks. Could she be having one of those 'girl crushes' she'd heard some people refer to? She shook her head. Regina definately wasn't gay. She hadn't even gone through an experimental phase in college or kissed a girl as a dare. She'd always found the idea quite sordid but yet, she wondered. What would she do if Emma did press those pretty little lips to her own? Would she push them away? Would she surrender?
Regina giggled to herself finding the whole train of thought quite amusing. She had obviously spent way too long on her own and her imagination was getting the better of her. Emma Swan had been the only person she'd had any personal contact with over the last month or so and she was obviously projecting some of her loneliness and longing to be touched onto their completely platonic friendship. Regina had always been intense with her friendships and she pushed the thought from her mind feeling slightly embarrassed for having even considered such a thing. She went to make herself a snack suddenly feeling a discomfort in her stomach.
After eating a simple sandwich, Regina decided to go and have a lie down. The traveling and alcohol must have caught up with her and she was exhausted. It was only 7 in the evening but she was more than ready for bed. As soon as her head touched the pillow, she was overcome by sleep and surrendered to her dreams.
...
"I can't actually believe you are going to Goldrum! Isn't that the biggest label there is?" Ruby squealed after Emma explained the phone call.
"Yeah. I don't understand how this is all happening so fast? I mean, yesterday morning, nobody could give two hoots about my music and today, fuck!" Emma looked worried.
"Why do you look so sad?"
"It just feels a bit like cheating, you know. Like, if Regina hadn't posted that story, nobody would actually give a crap about me."
Ruby growled. "Emma, does it matter? Obviously people liked what they heard otherwise they wouldn't have bothered following you in the first place. Nobody gets a foot in the door these days without a little help. It's networking babe. Get used to it."
"I guess. I don't know. I'm nervous. I don't know anything about contracts. What if I sign away the rights to my music or something?"
Ruby thought about it. "I don't think you could do that but it might be worth having a lawyer and or someone in the industry to help you out with it."
"Killian is the one who used to handle this stuff. Maybe I should get him involved."
"Emma! I could tell you'd been crying when you got here. I didn't say anything cos' I wanted to cheer you up bit listen to me now. This has fuck all to do with him! He used to deal with this stuff because it meant he got to control everything, not because he knows what he's talking about! Did he lay into you for staying over?"
Emma nodded and the tears started again. "I'm just so tired Ruby. I'm tired of fighting him and walking away only to get dragged back in again. I know I don't want to be with him and I haven't been happy for a long time but he makes me feel so guilty."
Ruby pulled her tightly into her arms and comforted her. "I know babe, I know. You know you always have a place here whenever you need, hell, most of the stuff in this place is yours anyway!"
Emma giggled through the tears. "Sorry for crying. I know you must be sick of hearing this. I know I am."
Ruby rubbed her back. "Yeah I am sick of it but only because I'm sick of you compromising who you are for that douche. Look what he does to you? He brings you to tears when you should be celebrating the best 2 days of your life! Do you seriously think you deserve someone like that in your life?"
"No."
"No you damn well don't! So dry those tears baby girl, because tomorrow you are going to meet Mr freakin' Gold of Goldrum Records and you do not want puffy red eye for that!"
...
Regina stirred gently when her phone pinged. She had been having the nicest dream about somebody finally taking care of her needs. In her dream, she was naked under white sheets and could feel the expert ministrations of someone's fingers and tongue exploring her body. She had reached down to pull the person back up as they brought her to climax so she could kiss them but on doing so, she realised it was Emma. She woke up with a start when the woman's face popped into her mind and noticer her breathing was ragged. She squeezed her thighes together and brought her knees up. She was mortified. How could she possibly have a wet dream at her age! And about a woman no less!
She bit her lip and tried to concentrate on any other image but the blonde as she snaked a hand down between her legs. She really was wet and if she didn't do something about it, she'd be awake for the rest of the night. She tried to imagine Robin as she touched herself. It didn't work. She tried to imagine Graham, but again it only distracted her. She tried to just focus on the sensations and she was almost there, almost at a release but the images from her dream kept flashing back. When she finally came, she felt dirty and ashamed knowing it was Emma's image that got her there.
She rolled onto her side in a fetal position and tried not to dwell on it too much. It was a one off fantasy and would not happen again. She needed to distract herself so she grabbed the forgotten phone off the bedside table and instantly flushed it as she read the message.
E: So I just got off the phone with Goldrum Records. Belle Gold said she got my number from a mutual contact. Would you know anything about that?X
Regina giggled.
R: May have met her once or twice.. and? X
E: And.. I'm going to have a meeting with her and Mr. Good tomorrow. Thanks again! Looks like I'll be in your neck of the woods tomorrow. Was wondering if you think I'll need a lawyer or anyone with me? X
R: As far as I know, it's just a meet and greet offer. You don't need to sign anything there and then but if you want, I can get someone to take a look at it.
E: Do you wanna come with?
Regina paused to think. It was a pretty big thing going in to your first meeting and she remembered how nervous she had been for hers. Emma could do with someone to hold her hand, figuratively speaking of course, and she was pretty good with contracts and the business side of the industry. She could recognise any big red flags in a heartbeat so it made sense that she should be the one to escort the woman.
R: I think I will, yes. What time is the meeting?
E: Thank you so much! 1 p.m. x
R: I'll meet you there just before. Please don't thank me again! It's my pleasure. X
Regina blushed crimson when she realised what she'd said.
"My pleasure indeed."
