Chapter 14: Charming your way back into her heart
It took Emma two weeks to prepare her plans to win back Regina's trust and heart. First thing she did was selling her apartment in England, she wanted to make sure that Regina knew that she was back and that she was invested in a future together. She made sure that all her work cases were handed to the right people and she started to program to become an American citizen. She had accepted the offer of moving into granny's old house and becoming a godmother.
It was on a Monday that she started the real work. Letting Regina know all the things she had done. Emma was sitting at the last booth in the diner when she saw the brunette walk in and ask for her shot of daily caffeine.
"Good morning August." Regina greeted him with a smile.
"The usual Regina." August Asks.
"Yes please." August prepares the drink and Regina let her eyes travel through the room. Emma didn't flinch away when brown eyes met green, no she kept staring at Regina making sure that the brunette knew she was watching her.
"Here you go Regina." August says handing Regina the steaming cup of coffee. Regina opens her purse ready to pay for her order when August holds up his hand.
"It's already paid for." He says grinning.
"What?" He cocks his head in Emma's direction and Regina can't help but huff.
"Emma…." She sighs going over to Emma. "What are you doing?"
"I told you I would fix this." Emma says while handing Regina an invitation.
"What's this?" The brunette studies the card.
"It's an invitation for my house warming party this evening. I hope you can come."
"Emma….." Regina wants to hand back the invitation but Emma shakes her head and holds her hands up.
"No! I'm not taking it back."
Regina rolls her eyes and turns to leave but before she can leave she can hear Emma call after her.
"I'm going to fight for you."
Regina fights but she can't help the way her mouth turns into a smile at Emma's words.
Emma was definitely becoming more nervous as the hours pass by. She had been cooking all afternoon, something she didn't do and actually shouldn't do. She was finishing the appetizers while looking on YouTube how she could elegantly serve them.
After finishing those she ran upstairs to put on her dress before the first guests would show up. It had taken her three days to make granny's old place feel like a home to her, so I guess she could start calling it her old place.
She had chosen a dress that was very much like the one she had worn the night she and Regina had slept together, she hoped the brunette would remember it. She curled her hair and applied some light make-up. She watches herself in the mirror when the first guests arrived.
Emma was acting like the perfect hostess, smiling and welcoming people into her home. She served and talked to everyone. Kathryn and August had both expressed how impressed they were with the changes Emma had made in the home. Emma appreciated every word but she still was missing the one person she was doing this all for.
"She's not coming, isn't she?" Emma says giving herself a moment away from hosting and sitting next to Ruby.
"Don't lose hope Emma." Ruby says patting Emma's knee.
"It's been a hour and a half. She's not coming." Not knowing what else to say Ruby hands Emma one of the glasses with wine.
After another half hour Ruby was starting to regret handing Emma the glass when she saw her friend tripping over her own feet.
"Is everyone enjoying themselves?" Emma asks enthusiastic. Her new neighbours and friends laughed and nodded.
"Good! At least this wasn't a complete waste of my time." Emma grabs another glass of wine and let herself drop on the sofa.
"Emma I think you had enough." Graham says grabbing the glass out of her hands.
"Since when are you a party-pooper! You always taking my drinks away." Emma whines trying to get her glass back.
"your my friend and I'm not going let you make a fool out of yourself." He hands her a glass of water.
"I think you should listen to him Emma, sober up because you have another guest." Kathryn says pointing at Regina who entered the house.
Emma freezes for a second feeling herself sober up immediately when she sees the brunette walk to her.
"Everything looks so beautiful Emma. I'm sorry I'm late, I had some work to do." She hands Emma a bottle wine. "I heard that bringing wine is appropriate to a house warming party."
Emma takes the bottle, she doesn't look at it, she just keeps smiling at Regina. "I'm so happy you're here."
"Don't read too much into it, dear." Regina turns around and walks over to some people she knows. Emma watches her, no she shouldn't read too much into it but still Regina being here was a huge step in the right direction.
"Emma, you're drooling." Ruby says coming to stand next to Emma.
"So? She came." Ruby says already seeing the hopeful looking in her friends eyes.
"Yes she did."
The next phase of her plan was at night. She was standing in Regina's front yard shushing August and Graham wanting them to be absolutely quiet while they place to bench from the docks between Regina's rose bushes.
Emma let her fingers trace of the carvings again. R+E 4ever, she had a few hours before the sun would make an appearance, she started making more carvings in the bench, all inspirational quotes she know Regina would love.
Be strong because things will get better
It may be stormy now but I never rains forever
Every day is a second change
Don't ever mistake
My silence for ignorance
My calmness for acceptance
my kindness for weakness
Remind yourself, it's okay to not be perfect
Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction
Ends up being the biggest step in your life
Tip toe if you must but take the step
Regina rewarded Emma with a smile and a hello when she saw the blonde at Granny's. The small appreciation for her work made it all worth for Emma.
"Madame Mayor." Kathryn says smiling at Regina when she enters the mayor's office.
"Good morning Kathryn, what can I do for you?" Regina asks looking up from her paperwork.
"I'm here to kidnap you." Regina let out a hysterical laugh.
"excuse me?" Kathryn smiles and holds up a blindfold.
"You have two choices, I can blindfold you with your consent or I knock you out. What is it going to be."
Regina rolls her eyes but let Kathryn blindfold her.
"Are you going to tell where we are going?" Regina asks when she feels the car stop. Kathryn smiles seeing Emma stand at the edge of the cliff, she doesn't answer Regina's question knowing that it will irritated the woman.
Emma walks to the car and opens the door. She takes Regina's hand and guides her over to the stairs to go down the cliff, to the wooden landing where she prepared a picnic for her and the brunette.
"Kathryn are you finally going to tell me where we are?" Regina asks frustration sounding through her voice. She didn't mind playing alone with this game but it was taking up to much of her time and she still had work to do.
Emma let's go of Regina's hand and walks behind her to untie the blindfold. Regina rubs her eyes with the palm of her hand. She's a bit shocked when she sees where she is. She turns around to the person who guided her there and is met with Emma handing a glass of champagne to her.
"Emma…." She curses herself, she should have known that Kathryn's weird behaviour would involve the blonde.
"Did you like the bench?" Emma asks sitting down on the blanket she had laid down for them. Regina takes a sip of the champagne and goes to sit down on the blanket as well.
"It's okay." Regina says not willing to thank the blonde for the beautiful gesture. She had indeed been impressed with the big changes that were happening with Emma. The blonde didn't know but Regina had been keeping a close eye on her, she knew about Emma quitting her job and life in England, the American citizenship and of course granny's place had never looked better. All signs that the blonde was keeping her word, she was staying and fighting for her.
"I knew you would like it." The blonde says grinning while opening the small food containers she had packed.
"So I don't think it's as good as yours but I made lasagne." Emma says taking a plate and serving Regina a big slice of steaming lasagne.
"There's also some garlic bread and a salad if you would prefer that more." Emma pours herself a glass of champagne as well and watches how Regina takes a bite out of the lasagne while she closes her eyes to savour the taste.
"It's indeed not as good as mine but I have to say I'm impressed, it's lovely." Emma gives her a beaming smile while she as well starts eating.
After a while they were actual having a good time. They both talked about their jobs and anything important that happened to them over the years and to the surprise of them both it didn't feel like ten years had passed.
"Do you want some whipped cream on your strawberries?" Emma asks shaking the tube and putting some on the strawberry Regina was holding in her hand.
Regina licks the whipped cream of the strawberry before eating it. "Okay." She says making Emma frown.
"What?" Emma asks confused.
"I want to try again. I want to let you in again Emma." Regina says taking Emma's hand and squeezing it.
"You do?" Emma breaths out in relief.
"Yes, and I'm inviting you to dinner tomorrow night at my place. You have been putting your effort in this and I want to do the same." She stands up and Emma follows her.
"Seven o'clock, and don't be late." Regina commands and gives Emma a peck on the cheek.
Emma was clutches the steer wheel of the yellow bug her knuckles turning white. Why the hell was she nervous, she looked good. She looks in her rear-view mirror and checks herself. Why was she sweaty? She takes some tissues from pack in the car and swipes away the sweat on her forehead. Get yourself together Swan! It's dinner and things are going good! Just don't be stupid and don't fuck this up.
She takes a deep breath and opens the door of her car. She had bought a rose for Regina because she didn't want to come empty handed. She makes her way to the door and knocks three times. She let the rose roll between her fingers while she waits for the door to open.
But when the door opens she isn't met with a beautiful looking Regina, no. A handsome man opens the door with a big smile on his face.
"Hello, can I help you?" He asks.
"I…you…re…" Emma doesn't know what to say, she just keeps looking at the boy while stupid thoughts are already invading her mind.
Who is this? Is this Regina's boyfriend? No I can't think like this! But what if he is? Would Regina do that to her again? No of course she wouldn't, but what if she would. No….I can't think like this.
"Nicolas, dear. Who's at the door?" Emma hears Regina voice. She looks past the handsome man and watches as Regina comes down the stairs while she's busy buttoning up her blouse. Emma can feel the blood drain from her face. She let's go of the rose and it falls to the floor, she turns around quickly.
"ma'am?" The man asks while he watches Emma run to her car. She gets in the car, starts the engine and speeds away. She can feel tears rolling down her face. She's being stupid she knows it but still the little demons in her mind are telling her to run before she gets hurt again and right now she isn't strong enough to not listen to them.
It's dark and the first rain is falling out of the sky making it hard for Emma to see where she's going. She squeezes her eyes trying to have a better vision of the road when she's blinded by lights and her heart jumps when she hears the squeaking of wheels on concrete.
"Shit…"