CHAPTER 25
"So, let me get this straight," Kat mumbled while engulfing a forkful of Chinese food, "Emma is living with you now?". She quickly dabbed a napkin on her lips. Even though she was eating takeaway food, she would never lose her finesse. Regina smiled, seeing her friend so interested in her love life. She might not have admitted it out loud, but she had to appreciate the effort. Kat never once lost hope on her, and even though she was more than difficult to pair with, the blonde tried to always come up with new dates. Hell, she even found Emma, which resulted in so much more than just one date.
This morning was a bit rushed, after waking up in Emma's arms, they had to quickly get ready and leave since Emma had to be at work early and Regina had to take Henry to daycare before resuming her activities for the day. Even though they never had a morning like this prior this date, every single thing ran out smoothly, as if practiced. Regina made breakfast for the three of them while Emma helped Henry to get ready. They left an hour later, with smiles on their faces, and a quick kiss of goodbye when Emma had to part in a different floor. It was just so easy.
"No, she is simply staying over, since she is yet to find a new accommodation here in New York, and it made sense when it comes to Henry, if she has to work late, I could watch him…" Regina stated. She knew this was far from a simple arrangement, yet she didn't want her friend to ask questions she didn't have the answer for. It felt like a lot more than just convenience, however since she didn't voice her thoughts to Emma, she failed to see if they were on the same page on this matter.
Kat grinned. She knew there was more to it, but decided not to push. Instead, she was more interested in knowing exactly what the brunette was doing when she had called the night before. Her inquisition resulted in a smack on her arm from a very exasperated Regina, who couldn't help but blush. "That good, huh?" Regina just rolled her eyes. She absolutely would not discuss her sex life. "Oh, cmon! Give me some sugar… I'm bored with my life right now, might as well live through yours…"
"Kathryn! This is hardly unappropriated!" Regina really tried to be serious about it, but her face was leaning towards a small smile. She never had that before, someone she could discuss with Kat. All her dates were meaningless and forgetful, and the idea of commenting on them was not appealing. Now, she had Emma, and even though she didn't want to sound like a giggly teenager, she sure felt like it. "Yes, we were otherwise engaged when you called, but nothing you cannot possibly imagine yourself. Do the math, dear."
"Oh, I sure know what you're implying, Miss Mills, I just wanted to know how things are in this aspect. I mean, I remember you telling me the first time was absolutely mind blowing and you barely even met her at the time. Now I take things are even better?" Yes, Kat wouldn't let her get away this time.
Sighing in a sign of resignation, Regina complied, "Things are great. We know each other better know, and this kind of intimacy is really what makes a difference."
"Oh, I bet it does! From how much you're getting 'intimate' this past few day, I am sure you already deciphered her DNA, for all I know." Kat was enjoying herself and this talk and even thought they were already finished with lunch, the blonde was still munching some fortune cookies. "Here, read me your luck." She handed Regina one of the biscuits.
"Be receptive to popular ideas." Regina snorted. "As if anything that is popular is somewhat good. Yours?"
"You shall get laid tonight." The blonde laughed. Oh boy, she did enjoy teasing Regina.
"For your information, dear, we only had sex once since we got back together. We are taking things slow, there's so much at stake this time, with Henry-"
"Whoa, wait a minute!" Kat stopped Regina explanation raising one of her hands in front of the brunette. "Do you seriously mean that yesterday evening was the night and I interrupted? Jeez, sorry!"
"It is absolutely fine, dear; we got right back on track-"
"No doubt in that! I don't even know why did you pick it up in the first place… So, this thing with Emma, this is it, right? For real?"
"I believe so, yes." Regina seemed thoughtful. Truly, she had thought of it prior that moment, but finally saying it out loud had an impact on her. "Emma's the one."
The blonde shrieked and hugged Regina tightly, "I'm so happy for you, Gina!"
"Thanks, Kat. I truly appreciate that." Looking at bright blue eyes, she continued, "You know, you never told me the story of how you met Emma…"
Kat's face changed from genuinely happy to mischievous with a resemblance of guilty. "About that…" Regina knew this was something she should have asked before, by the look of her friend. Yet, she listened, while Kat briefly described their first encounter and how things developed.
"You met her on the elevator?" Scarlet lips howled. "And you sent her on a date with me, a complete stranger?" Regina was baffled. "Really, Kathryn?"
"Hey, look at the bright side: it worked!" She happily raised her hands in a sign of peace.
"Yet it could have worked with me waking up in a bathtub without one of my kidneys! Possibly both!" Brown eyes denoted her aggravation.
"But you didn't. And now you have a girlfriend!" She exclaimed, trying to salvage their playfulness from earlier.
"Do not think I will let you out of the hook so easily. And, Emma is not my girlfriend." Hazelnut iris softened, showing a glimpse of insecurity.
"Oh, you haven't asked her yet? Seriously, Gina, you should that soon. I bet she will love it! And it is good for you both, you know, to show you're on the same page and all…"
"I always found this 'girlfriend' denomination so childish. If I have to ask her, I'll feel like we are in second grade."
"It doesn't matter. It might be important to her to hear it. She will know you truly mean it when you say you want to be with her. Besides, when you're all lovey-dovey, you don't care about what is cheesy. Ask her. You'll see."
As if summoned, the brunette's iPhone started to ring, showing a smiley blonde and her son in the picture. Regina didn't like to answer calls in front of other people, but it was just Kathryn, and she missed Emma already. "Hello dear."
"Hey, gorgeous! How is your day going so far? Wanna meet me for lunch?" She could feel Emma smiling even through the phone.
"I am fine, thank you, how are you? Actually, Kat is here; we just had lunch. Sorry."
"Hey, no worries. Send her my hello!"
"Here, I'll put you on speaker. There. Can you hear us?"
"Yes! Hi, Kathryn!" The older blonde grinned.
"Hi Emma, how are you today?"
"So far so good, how are you? Enjoying your lunch?" Kat then started to jab her elbow on Regina's, quietly whispering 'ask her, do it.' Regina tried to shut her up, but they ended up in a fit of giggling and Emma was lost. "What is going on over there?"
"Oh, nothing dear, Kat just decided to act like a five-year-old." Regina managed to say while holding both Kat's arms and trying to keep her still.
"Nu-uh! Emma, Regina has something to ask you, but she is unsure if she should." There, no turning back. Regina glared at her.
"Do you now?" Emma sounded amused. She knew that this was not something bad. Otherwise, they wouldn't be messing around like that. "I wonder what, infamous and famously known Regina Mills would have to ask me, a simple commoner?"
"Did you agree to go on a date with me after meeting Kat for the first time on the elevator?" The brunette blurted. Hell, it was the first thing in her mind.
"Uh, yes?" Emma never thought that Regina didn't know this. I mean, Kat is her friend, after all. "Did you just find out about that?" The younger blonde couldn't help but laugh. "In my defense, it was all Kat's idea. I was just in for the hot brunette."
"You didn't even know how I looked like!" Regina argued.
"Guess it was a gamble then. And, I'm happy I did it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have met the hot brunette." She couldn't see Emma, but she could practically feel the mirth in her eyes.
"Very well. We will talk about this later, in private." She looked at Kat, who didn't seem embarrassed at all.
"Is that really what you wanted to ask me?" The journalist insisted. She knew this was too simple to have Regina thinking twice before asking. "Or do you just decided to go for it to distract me?" Damn, Emma knew her well.
"No, but we can talk more about it later. I'm sure you're busy, and I should get back to work-"
"Just ask her, woman!"
"Shoot me, babe."
This was it. They were all waiting, ready to listen, and even if Regina didn't feel ready just to say something like that, she had to leap.
"Okay, but for the record, this is not how I wanted to do this…" The architect sighed and gathered herself for a second. "Emma, will you be my girlfriend?"
"Hell, yes!" The blonde laughed. "That was easy. I thought you would ask something complicated or difficult to answer!"
"That's it? Yes?" Regina was a little impressed. Emma sounded so at ease, so sure.
"Well, yes, if that's what you want. I know I want to. Will you be my girlfriend, Regina?"
Yes, there was something to it, upon hearing it, even in the silliest moments, it sounded amazing. Regina felt safe, like coming crawling back to bed after a summer day at the beach, when you're too tired even to take your clothes off. And yet, you don't care. "Yes." She replied, simply, mostly because she didn't trust her voice in that second.
"Yay!" Emma could sound like a child sometimes. "I have the hottest girlfriend. Can't wait to tell people over here at work. Is it okay for me to tell people?" Then, just like that, she sounded so small and unsure.
"Of course, Emma, do as you please." Regina had to hand it to Emma, she would make her feel all sorts of things at once, and she had to bite her tongue to prevent an 'I love you' from falling freely from her lips.
"Okay!" She cheered. "Hey, listen, I do have to go now, they are calling me to do this interview, and I have to run! See you at home, babe. See you, Kat!"
"Bye, Emma!" Kathryn happily chirped.
"See you, Em." She sighed, collecting her phone from the table and locking the screen, without paying much attention to Kat. She knew it was just a matter of seconds until her friend would comment on their interaction. One, two, three…
"Oh, my darling, you've got it bad."