HI KIDDOS :) Sooooo, this chapter isn't very long...
But I hope I can cheer you up by promising I'll be updating tomorrow and Monday as well? No? Yes? Pretty please?
I've decided to split up Emma's Birthday into several chapters... So after this one there's two more about the 17th of November :)
I always celebrate my own Birthday for a whole week and I thought... Why not celebrate Emma's for four chapters?
I hope you don't mind ^^
All aboard?! Lets go...
NOVEMBER 17th
Instead of having breakfast at the hotel, Regina decided they should go out and have brunch.
Brunch being a Mills thing and food in general being an Emma thing… That had been a brilliant idea.
Afterwards they'd walked around… The weather was lovely. Blue cold sky, bright sun. Perfect for some sightseeing or just random strolling.
Regina's class wasn't until 3pm, which gave them some time to just do whatever for now. Acting all couply for instance. Walking hand in hand.
Fucking walking hand in hand.
A crazy thing for both women. A wonderful feeling if you'd ask either.
Regina's sweet grip on her girlfriend's hand making the younger girl feel warm all over.
As long as she keeps her free hand in the pocket of her jacket, tucked away from the chill November air.
And so they walk alongside.
'I was wondering…' Emma tries to think of how to phrase this right.
The older woman raises an eyebrow, silently telling her girlfriend to go on and tell her what it is that she's been wondering.
'Did you know your mother… that she invited me for Thanksgiving?' Emma decides to just go for it and ask.
Regina's other eyebrow copies it's twin and moves up towards her hairline.
'She… What?' comes her strained question.
'Yeah.' The blonde gives her an apologetic smile. She's actually secretly crossing her fingers in the pocket of her jacket, hidden from Regina's sight.
Hoping, desperately hoping, that Regina's upset expression has nothing to do with how she feels about Emma joining them for the Holiday
and everything with the fact that Cora had taken it upon herself to pop that question.
'I can't believe her.' Regina sighs.
'What do you mean?' The student reluctantly asks, biting her lip. So hoping that…
'I was supposed to ask you that.' The woman says in disappointment and focuses on the ground in front of her.
As the girl inhales a big gulp of oxygen, her smile widens. She's feeling thankful already.
'You were going to ask me?' She tries to not sound too enthusiastic.
'That surprises you?' Regina huffs.
The girl presses her lips together and shakes her head.
'I try to refrain from wishful thinking.' Green eyes say a lot more than those words alone.
The professor looks at her for a long moment and then nods. Letting Emma know she understands exactly what she's talking about .
The girl had lived through enough disappointment in the past, she'd learned to never get her hopes up.
'Aren't you gonna ask if I accepted the invite?' The girl chuckles.
At that the brunette can't help but laugh. She shakes her head in clear amusement
and looks over at her girlfriend who's sceptically regarding her with furrowed eyebrows.
'What?' Emma demands cutely.
'As if you'd have the guts to say no to my mother.' Regina smiles and rolls her eyes.
Emma's eyes go wide as she snorts. 'Well, apparently.'
'What?' The professor says quickly as her eyes go from amusement to a mixture of disappointment and shock in just a split second.
Emma keeps a straight face for a couple of seconds. But the look in Regina's eyes is heartbreaking and just unacceptable,
the blonde can't bare to be the cause of that.
'I'm kidding.' She soothes her older girlfriend, smiling softly.
'That was mean.' Regina pouts and pulls her hand out of Emma's.
The girl looks down at her lonely empty palm and inhales sharply at the loss of warmth and Regina
'What? I'm sorry.' She says extremely fast. And takes three quick steps forward to block the woman's path.
The latter chuckles and stops walking.
'Are you really?' She raises a mischievous brow.
Emma luckily picks up on the playful glint in her girlfriend's eyes and nods while pouting.
'Hmm' Regina tilts her head and reaches out to push a few blonde hairs out of the blonde's face.
'I think you'll have to make it up to me.' Nothing innocent about that smirk.
Her fingers brush against the shell of a bright red ear.
'And how do you suggest I do that?' Emma grins wide with darkening eyes.
'I could think of a thing or two.' Regina leans closer and whispers against her student's soft, crimson cheek.
Emma licks her lips. She could think of a thing or ten to be honest.
'I'll do anythi'
Emma's hoarse reply gets interrupted by the ringing of a phone.
Regina's phone.
The brunette groans and retrieves the device from the pocket of her coat.
She rolls her eyes when she sees who's calling her, gives Emma a quick wink and presses green.
'Yes mother?'
'Regina!'
The younger brunette sighs and smiles.
'How are you?' she asks Cora.
'Fabulous dear. I'm sorry I didn't call you yesterday. I just had….'
Cora explains how and why and what and things and whatever… Regina's attention is trained on her girlfriend as she seems to be trying to say something.
The blonde student soundlessly mouths she's going to get them…Regina looks into the direction Emma is pointing and nods.
Yes, she wants coffee too.
Emma smiles and walks off.
'That's fine mom. Yesterday went well. I think it's going to be easy to keep the project going.'
'Well done dear, I knew I could count on you.'
'All I did was speak.' The younger woman shakes her head a little.
'I'm proud of you.' Cora ignores her daughter.
Regina sighs but can't help but smile at her mother's words. 'Thank you.' She murmurs and then suddenly remembers that regardless…
she's kinda pissed at the older Mills.
'You invited Emma for Thanksgiving.' She states in a slightly annoyed tone. Sounding a little like a teenage version of herself.
'Obviously.' Cora huffs.
'Obviously.' Regina sighs… Because really, what else can she say….
'How is she?' Her mother than softly asks.
Regina smiles at her mother's tone, enjoying the older woman's interest in her girlfriend, realizing just how lucky she is.
'It's her birthday.' She smiles.
'Give her to me.' Comes the older brunette's quick reply.
A part of Regina, a big part, is incredibly grateful that Emma had suggested she'd go get coffee.
Having her girlfriend talk on the phone with her mother right now might be a cute sight,
but she knows Emma needs to be eased into the awkwardness that is Cora Mills. She needs to prepare the girl for her mother's true nature.
'She's getting coffee.' Regina truthfully says.
'Hmm.' The older woman seems to wait a couple of seconds.
Regina's not entirely sure whether her mother is awaiting the blonde's return or if she's trying to telepathically figure out if she's lying about the girl's absence…
The truth is, Cora isn't entirely sure herself.
'Hmm… Well wish her a very happy birthday from me.' She then finally says.
'I will.'
'And your father.'
'Promise.'
'You forgot to take the present I gave you.' Cora suddenly mentions.
Regina holds her breath and shuts her eyes tight.
'No I didn't.' She says through gritted teeth.
'Regina don't lie. I went to pick up those files at your house and I found it exactly where I'd left it.'
'I didn't say I took them, I said I didn't forget them.' She rolls her eyes at the insufferable brunette.
'Oh darling, you can try to fool me but I wasn't born yesterday, I know they would have been of good use.'
'Mother, this is highly inappropriate.' Regina hisses against her cellphone.
The gift her mother had given her was indeed… a little unorthodox, to say the least.
Cora has to actually keep herself from laughing, this was exactly the reaction she had expected from her daughter.
The younger brunette truly is so very predictable when it comes to matters of this kind.
Cora'd actually given the present as a sort of encouragement to enjoy each other's company while being away,
but mostly because she'd thought it was extremely amusing to embarrass Regina. It's harmless fun really.
So what?... She'd given Regina a package of condoms.
Even though a part of Cora was reluctant to give her daughter any sort of contraceptives at this point in her life, another part of her,
one that just loves to use any opportunity to tease Regina, had won over.
'It was stubborn of you not to take them with you. Those are really good condoms, honey.' The older woman sighs.
'I don't care.' Regina whines.
'They're supposed to even heighten the pleasure for both lovers.' Cora casually explains as if it's normal for her to be saying stuff like this.
'Mother stop it, I don't want to hear it.'
'I'm not trying to imply you need that. I'm sure the two of you satisfy each other's needs perfe'
'Honestly stop it. I don't want them.'
'Oh honey, don't be ridicules… You're crazy about Emma, of course you want them. Or did you have enough already? '
The older brunette suddenly says.
As a Mills, Regina had probably been prepared already… She'd probably stashed in on enough supplies already… It would make sense.
Regina's eyes are shut tightly. She wants for the ground to swallow her whole, for the air to leave her lungs quickly and let her die right there on the spot… Because this slow 'death by embarrassment' is becoming too much to handle.
'I just don't need them mom.' She murmurs reluctantly. Emphasizing on need.
'What do you mean, you don't need them?' Cora asks confused. Emphasizing on need as well.
Okay so, Cora's very ready to be a grandmother…
But never in her wildest dreams would she have expected for Regina and Emma to try and have babies this early in their relationship.
'Do you not use protection?' She asks slowly… The glint of hope in her voice, undeniable.
Regina's actually annoyed at that hopeful tone she detects.
'No mother… I mean… yes' She sighs. 'We just… we don't use condoms. Emma's on the pill.' She says quickly, wanting to shut Cora up.
They've talked about this subject long enough… enough for the rest of her life.
'Oh.' The older woman says.
'Yes, she's told me from the beginning. Something about wanting to be regular with her period…'
Regina sighs and then groans because her brain is now officially close to exploding.
'Mom I'm not exactly familiar with that kind of stuff.'
'I know darling, It's fine. I understand.' Her mother chuckles.
'Okay good. Do you need anything else?' The younger brunette asks sternly
'No I just wanted to hear how you're doing.' The woman replies in a much softer tone.
Regina sighs and reminds herself that regardless of how annoying her mother can be, Cora Mills will always always be there for her.
And will always do this… Call to hear how she's doing…
'We're doing great mom.' She says sincerely, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she sees her blonde goddess coming her way,
holding two cups of clouds. The feeling she gets from talking for both her and Emma can only be described as beautiful.
Oh yes.. and wonderful.. and amazing as well… possibly anything positive, now she's come to think of it.
'I'm really happy to hear that darling.' The older woman smiles through the phone.
'Yeah.' Regina blushes, while looking at Emma who's taking a sip of her apparently scalding beverage,
since she seems to be cursing whatever higher power there is for getting her tongue burned.
'Take care of each other and don't forget to tell Emma congratulations of me and your father.'
'I won't.' Regina smiles.
'Okay honey, we love you.'
'Love you and daddy.'
She presses red and sighs while looking down at the black screen of her phone.
'Hey, are you okay?' Emma takes a step closer to her. Both of her hands occupied with cups.
But the heat of her proximity is soothing and relaxing none the less.
'I love her, I really do… She's great… But she can be so infuriating.' Regina grimaces.
'What did she say?' Emma smiles and holds Regina's cup up for the older woman to take it from her.
The brunette's fingers wrap around the warm beverage. grazing Emma's in the process. Not by accident.
'She gave me a present for the trip… before we left…'
The young blonde tilts her head, listening closely. That sounds nice.
'I didn't take it with me… and she found out and confronted me about it.'
The girl's eyebrows furrow at the confusing story. She doesn't have a clue about what's so infuriating about that.
Is Regina blaming her mother because she herself had forgotten to take something with her? That doesn't make any sense. No sense at all.
'I don't get it.' She shakes her head a little.
Regina sighs and looks up at Emma.
'The present were condoms.'
Emma's eyes go wide in… probably horror as her jaw drops.
'Euhm… what?' She says after about half a minute of staring at her somewhat amused girlfriend.
The look on Emma's face is actually extremely cute. Okay so it is pretty fun to shock her a little. It's harmless teasing.
Is that why her mother's always torturing her with these kind of conversations? Because seeing the blood rise in someone's face is undoubtedly entertaining?
'She wanted to make sure we gave each other enough attention, even though this trip is supposed to be business.' The brunette chuckles
'Well we don't need them… Besides, I'm not having sex with anything your mother gave us.' The girl shakes her head fast
'To be fair darling, my mother gave you… me' She jokes.
Emma's not amused though.
'You know what I mean.' She deadpans, rolls her eyes and takes a few small sips from her coffee. Damn she wishes they'd had cinnamon.
Regina laughs lightly at Emma's grumpy behavior and her completely flushed cheeks. She smiles at her girlfriend and nods.
'Don't worry, I told her we don't use condoms.'
Emma gulps.
'Excuse me?' She says high pitched, while possibly turning even redder.
Regina fakes confusion. 'What is it, dear?'
Emma shakes her head and narrows her eyes, staring into the distance.
'You actually told… Cora Mills, my dean… that we don't use condoms.'
'Well it's the truth, isn't it?' Regina pulls up her shoulders and says.
Emma nods…'Yeah but… she's … she's my dean.'
'And I'm your teacher.' Regina gives her a small smile.
Emma tries to think of a response to that… but comes up empty.
'That's… true.' She murmurs.
'Look darling, trust me. That's far not the most embarrassing thing she'll do. Just try to ignore it as much as possible.
I told you, she loves awkward situations… It's her second nature to make people feel uncomfortable.'
'But she's done a great job at trying to make me feel comfortable when I had that meeting with her in her office.'
Regina smiles wide. 'And I love her for that. But trust me, it's stronger than herself… You're gonna see her true self eventually…'
Emma's eyes are wide. Oh boy.
'I just feel awkward about her knowing details about our… sex life.' The girl says softly, and rather shy.
'She doesn't know shit.' Regina smiles wide.
Emma's eyes go wide in both shock and amusement at her girlfriend's choice of words. The younger girl laughs, which pleases Regina immensely.
As much as she'd enjoyed teasing Emma. She really really loves it when the girl is fully at ease as well, loves it more of course.
'She doesn't?' Emma asks once she's stopped laughing. She looks into beautiful brown pools that make her feel comfortable again in no time.
'No darling, what happens between us behind closed doors, isn't any of her business.'
'You told her we have condomless sex.' Emma raises an accusing eyebrow.
'That's not a word.' Regina snorts.
'You still told her.' The blonde insists.
'Emma, she's the devil. She practically dragged it out of me… I'm telling you, wait till you get to know the real Cora Mills.' Regina laughs at the prospect. Secretly loving that she won't be her mother's only prey anymore.
'I think I'm gonna die.'
'Don't worry. I'll always make sure to kiss you awake, princess.'
Emma laughs and takes another sip of black before grinning wide.
'That was so cheesy.' She teases sweetly.
Regina pulls up her shoulders and smiles.
'Oh before I forget. My mom told me to wish you a happy birthday… and something about having a present for you.'
'You're joking, right?' Emma instantly grimaces in discomfort.
'Yeah… There's no present.' Regina chuckles and gives in, allowing her girlfriend to breathe in relief.
But her eyes are lit up deviously when she adds
'...that I know of.'
You're lovely. I'm one lucky 'writer' to have you :3
COMING UP: Yours truly,...